Mentorship is a form of support for orphans and children deprived of parental care, and it's not about material aid, but about personal contact, trust, and the transfer of life experience. UNN will tell you more about how mentorship works, who can join, and why it's important.
What is mentorship
Mentorship is the voluntary, unpaid activity of a mentor to provide a child living in an institution for orphans or children deprived of parental care, or another institution for children, with individual support and assistance, primarily in preparing for independent living.
In fact, a mentor becomes the adult that a child often lacks: a person who will listen, support, advise, and show by their own example how to act in various life situations. It is this experience of communication that will influence the child's values, decisions, and life orientations in the future.
Who can have a mentor and who becomes one
Any child under 18 years of age living in an institutional care facility can receive a mentor. It does not matter whether they have official orphan status.
Meanwhile, any adult capable person who has reached the age of 18 and has undergone special training on the social adaptation of children can become a mentor. Training is mandatory, as a mentor must understand the specifics of working with children who grow up without a family environment and be ready for responsibility.
The main tasks of mentorship are:
- identifying and developing the child's abilities, promoting
the realization of their interests in professional self-determination;
- providing the child with accessible information about their rights
and responsibilities;
- forming practical skills in the child aimed at adapting them to independent living, including solving household issues, managing their own property and finances, obtaining educational, social, medical, administrative, and other services;
- familiarizing the child with the peculiarities of social
communication and overcoming difficult life situations;
- promoting the child's development as a responsible,
successful individual;
- forming healthy lifestyle habits in the child.
What exactly does a mentor do?
A mentor does not replace parents but helps the child acquire necessary life skills. The minimum condition is meetings at least once a week for a year, and the main areas of work are as follows:
- help with learning, doing homework,
developing interests and abilities;
- forming self-esteem, communication skills,
the ability to resolve conflicts, control emotions, and make decisions;
- teaching self-care, cooking,
budget planning, using services and organizations;
- explaining rights and responsibilities, preventing risks,
including those related to dangerous situations;
- assistance in choosing a profession, career planning,
familiarization with various fields of activity.
How to become a mentor
The procedure involves several stages and begins with contacting the social services center at your place of residence.
Next, the candidate must undergo:
- Consultation and informational meeting;
- Interview with a psychologist;
- Collection of necessary documents (passport, medical
conclusion, certificate of no criminal record, application);
- Special training for mentors.
After this, a child is selected, an introduction is made, contact is established, and consent for mentorship is obtained from all parties, i.e., the child, their parents or other representatives, and the mentor themselves. The final stage will be the signing of a tripartite agreement between the mentor, the social service, and the institution.
Mentorship formats and how it works in practice
There are several mentorship formats:
- individual (one-on-one) -
the most common;
- group - working with several children;
- online mentorship - communication via the internet.
However, in any format, regularity and long-term interaction remain key. It is also important to understand that mentorship is strictly regulated by an agreement and has clear boundaries. It is only possible with the consent of the child and their legal representatives. The mentor is responsible for upholding the child's rights, as well as their safety if the child is temporarily with them, for example, during holidays or vacations (no more than three days).
The agreement may be terminated in case of non-fulfillment of duties, violation of the child's rights, refusal of one of the parties, or the child reaching adulthood or a change in their life circumstances (adoption, return to family, etc.).
Why mentorship really works
Most people have had someone in their lives who influenced their path – a teacher, a coach, or a mentor. For children growing up without a family, such support is especially important, because mentorship helps not only to adapt to adult life but also to form a sense of self-worth, trust in the world, and understanding of one's own capabilities.
Mentorship is a real opportunity to change a child's life through simple things: attention, time, and sincere communication. For an adult, it is a responsibility, but also a chance to become the person who will help a child take their first confident steps into the adult world.